EVENTS / NEWSLETTERS / UPDATES

Annual Meeting UpdateOctober 2, 2017The turnout for the Annual Meeting was fantastic and included Bryan Zak (Mayor), Katie Koester (City Manager), Linda Hutchings (Candidate for Borough Mayor), Kelly Cooper (Borough Assembly) and Paul Seaton (AK Representative). Topics discussed were what HMTA has been doing this past year and discussion about up coming projects: Video update, interviews of old time Homer folks, and the Homer Boat Show. Two new Directors were nominated and approved: Reba Temple - Captain of F/V Cloud 9 and Aaron Fleenor from Northern Enterprises. Sign ups for available slots in the Tide Book, Pacific Marine Expo and the Anchorage Boat Show filled up quickly, leaving only a couple spots left. The links to the website and Facebook page were shared and we let everyone how well our Workforce Development program was going.

All in all, a good start to a new year for Homer Marine Trades Association!

​Mike Stockburger, HMTA President

NewsletterSeptember 22, 2017

Membership Renewals2017/2018 Membership Packets are now available – Renewals have been sent out via email this year to make your renewal easier than ever! If you haven’t already, please renew your membership today! If you didn’t receive your email renewal or need it re-sent, please email Deb Rhoades at deb.rhoades@yahoo.com. If you know of someone who would be interested in the benefits of being an HMTA member, please don’t hesitate to direct them to our website at www.homermartinetrades.com . Don’t forget, the deadline to be included in our annual Tide Books and brochures is October 15th so don’t miss out!

What’s HappeningAnnual Meeting

Friday, September 29th doors open at 5:00 pm, meeting starts at 5:30 pm at the NOMAR Mercantile Building (upstairs)

!!!Elections!!! There are two board seats open, please consider running!

There will be refreshments!

AdvertisingWe have lots of opportunities for advertising your business! This year our ads will be published in the Fisherman’s News, WorkBoat Magazine, Pacific Fishing and Alaska Equipment Source. We’ll have our large banner displayed at the Pacific Fish Expo in Seattle as well as the Anchorage Boat Show - space is available for your logo on these TWO banners! Additionally, our video will be promoted at each of the trade shows. The video will include a section for businesses to showcase their service and product; see the attached Advertising Opportunities Menu for more details and sign up today! Deadline for your commitment is October 15th! And have you seen us on Facebook???? Check us out and LIKE us at Homer Marine Trades Association!

Education and Training Opportunities

HMTA has partnered once again with the Homer High School to offer 12 sessions of FOL’s (Focus on Learning) throughout the school year. Industry experts of HMTA host the sessions and offer students a glimpse into each field in an effort to prompt their interest and give them an idea of what Homer’s marine industry has to offer them for the future. It was wildly successful last year and we are looking to expand the program. If you are interested in hosting a session, please don’t hesitate to contact Reba Temple at 235-4646! Fall sessions begin Wednesdays, September 27th at 2:30 p.m. at HHS.

This is our third year partnering with Kenai Peninsula College to make marine technology training more accessible to the public and in particular, those seeking employment or further training in the industry. HMTA has set aside $1,000 toward KPC course registration reimbursements for those attending the 2017/2018 Maritime Technology Courses who are seeking employment in the industry. A flyer of the fall sessions is attached to this newsletter, go to the website or KPC for the reimbursement form.

Get your HMTA Hoodie!Sizes available small – XXL @ $40 Available for purchase at the annual meeting!

Newsletter February 8, 2017

From HMTA President Mike Stockburger

Homer Marine Trades Association is a cooperative effort among many of the marine trade providers in this area. Ours is a three pronged effort. We are working at getting the word out: “Homer is in the Business of Boats”, through cooperative advertising. An amazing effort has been expended by our members to help motivate and educate the young, upcoming members of the workforce in our community. The third facet needed in our area is a way to fully service the larger vessels that are currently taking their repairs (and dollars) elsewhere. This is year six for HMTA as an independent association and I am happy to report we are making great progress in all areas!

Advertising, of course, is the key to attracting customers. We hit it hard this past year with print and radio ads, including national, state and local newspapers and magazines. We also manned booths in both a commercial workboat show, Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, and a sport boating venue, Anchorage Boat Show. Many of our members were able to show off their wares and offer their services to thousands of show goers. The foundation of our advertising efforts is our website. Here is where boaters can quickly gain access to a solution to their boat problems or connect with that new boat, motor, fishing permit or just leave it to the pros and hire a charter. We even have a link to the HMTA Video, check it out: www.homermarinetrades.com.

Wonderful things have been happening on the workforce development side also! Our members have been stepping up and providing classes on a variety of topics during Homer High’s Focus on Learning class periods. Over at the UAA Kachemak Bay Campus students young and old can improve their skills by attending one of the Maritime Technology Series (see their course offerings at: https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/). HMTA has been helping students get motivated and afford these opportunities with HMTA sweatshirts, picnics, class fee reimbursements and Vocational Scholarships. Plans are afoot to offer a Maritime Technology semester-long class at the High school. A return to vocationally-based educational opportunities for those heading in that direction is a welcome change! This is being supported at a state-wide and national level as well.

Photos from FOL coordinator, Reba Temple, HHS.

Here in Homer we are blessed with a well protected, safe harbor manned by a dedicated Harbormaster and his staff to help with mooring and other in-water issues. Other members are equipped with trailers, travel lifts and air bags to assist in getting the boats out to get work done. We have welders, electricians, painters, fiberglass experts, mechanics and all manner of marine hardware providers to help ensure the boats are kept in tip-top shape. The one class of boats not currently addressed are the larger, deep-v hulled seiners and long liners. These are too heavy, wide or top heavy to be hauled. As a community we are working to find a solution, so no one has to take their boats somewhere else. Here too, we are hoping a cooperative approach will prevail. A group made up of those individuals and businesses with a vested interest in a large haul out would be great alternative to waiting for the government or big business to solve the problem.

Key to our survival as an organization is support from local businesses, the City of Homer, the Port and Harbor of Homer, KPC and our local Chamber of Commerce. Together we are undoubtedly making a difference in the attractiveness of Homer as a destination for boaters whether they are commercial, charter or sport related. We are also making this a better place to live for us and our children. Thanks you all for your support!